Jasper Rootham
Encyclopedia
Jasper St John Rootham was a civil servant, soldier, central banker, merchant banker, writer and poet.
His paternal grandfather was the singer, organist, and conductor Daniel Wilberforce Rootham (1837-1922). His father Cyril Rootham
was a well-known musician and composer based at St John's College, Cambridge
. His mother Rosamond Margaret Rootham (née Lucas) had been a notable suffragette, and continued as a campaigner on various social issues throughout her life.
Rootham studied at Tonbridge School before moving on to St John's College, Cambridge
.
with whom he formed a life-long friendship. (Powell gave the address at Rootham's funeral in Wimborne in 1990.)
During his vacations Rootham travelled in France, Germany and Switzerland, gaining fluency in French and German.
Rootham distinguished himself in the classics, graduating with a double First. While at St John's he also found time for sport (St John's Rugby Club) and music (playing the cello in the Cambridge University Musical Society under the baton of his father Cyril Rootham
).
, Rootham was working in the office of prime minister Neville Chamberlain
, where his fluency in French and German were often called upon during negotiations with the French and German governments. After Chamberlain's resignation in May 1940, Rootham worked for Chamberlain's successor as prime minister Winston Churchill
.
. He was posted to Cairo where he was trained as a parachutist, eventually to be dropped into Yugoslavia. While in Cairo, he also learned Russian in which he became fully fluent. On completion of his training he was parachuted into Yugoslavia with a small team of British soldiers, their purpose being to support the Serb army under Draža Mihailović
in their fight against the German army. Rootham became fluent in Serbo-Croat.
However, the policy of the British government later changed, and UK support was switched from Mihailović to the communist partisans under Josip Broz Tito
. At that point, Rootham and his British troops were hurriedly withdrawn from Yugoslavia - an action which Rootham regarded as a betrayal of Mihailović. After the war had ended, he wrote an account of this military venture which was published under the title "Miss-Fire".
In 1945, Rootham was posted to Berlin where his fluency in Russian involved him in negotiations with the Soviet army
in the run-up to the Potsdam Conference
.
).
In 1947, they had a son John Daniel ("Dan") Rootham, and in 1951 a daughter Catherine Virginia ("Tutu") Rootham.
Joan McClelland continued to dance with Ballet Rambert until the birth of their second child, and in later years she also taught at Ballet Rambert.
where he remained for twenty years. In the mid-1950s Rootham and his wife travelled to Russia
as part of an official delegation sent by the Bank of England. During his career at the Bank of England, Rootham travelled regularly to meetings of the Bank for International Settlements
in Basel.
In 1968, Rootham left the Bank of England to join the London merchant bank Lazard Brothers. He was once heard to remark that he made more profit for Lazard in preventing unprofitable deals than in acquiring new business.
Rootham also held non-executive directorships with the British Sugar Corporation (now British Sugar plc) and with the Agricultural Mortgage Corporation.
should be performed and heard more widely. From 1960 until his death in 1990, Jasper Rootham was tireless in promoting performances and recordings of Cyril's works. Several of these performances were released on LP or CD.
Around 1965 the BBC also broadcast one of Cyril Rootham's major works: his setting of Milton's poem Ode on the Morning of Christ's Nativity.
Childhood and adolescence
Rootham was an only child.His paternal grandfather was the singer, organist, and conductor Daniel Wilberforce Rootham (1837-1922). His father Cyril Rootham
Cyril Rootham
Cyril Bradley Rootham was an English composer, educator, organist and important figure in Cambridge music life.-Biography:...
was a well-known musician and composer based at St John's College, Cambridge
St John's College, Cambridge
St John's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. The college's alumni include nine Nobel Prize winners, six Prime Ministers, three archbishops, at least two princes, and three Saints....
. His mother Rosamond Margaret Rootham (née Lucas) had been a notable suffragette, and continued as a campaigner on various social issues throughout her life.
Rootham studied at Tonbridge School before moving on to St John's College, Cambridge
St John's College, Cambridge
St John's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. The college's alumni include nine Nobel Prize winners, six Prime Ministers, three archbishops, at least two princes, and three Saints....
.
University
Rootham read Classics at St John's College, Cambridge, and commenced his studies there in 1928. He became acquainted with Enoch PowellEnoch Powell
John Enoch Powell, MBE was a British politician, classical scholar, poet, writer, and soldier. He served as a Conservative Party MP and Minister of Health . He attained most prominence in 1968, when he made the controversial Rivers of Blood speech in opposition to mass immigration from...
with whom he formed a life-long friendship. (Powell gave the address at Rootham's funeral in Wimborne in 1990.)
During his vacations Rootham travelled in France, Germany and Switzerland, gaining fluency in French and German.
Rootham distinguished himself in the classics, graduating with a double First. While at St John's he also found time for sport (St John's Rugby Club) and music (playing the cello in the Cambridge University Musical Society under the baton of his father Cyril Rootham
Cyril Rootham
Cyril Bradley Rootham was an English composer, educator, organist and important figure in Cambridge music life.-Biography:...
).
Early career
Rootham started his working life as a civil servant. At the start of the Second World WarWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Rootham was working in the office of prime minister Neville Chamberlain
Neville Chamberlain
Arthur Neville Chamberlain FRS was a British Conservative politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from May 1937 to May 1940. Chamberlain is best known for his appeasement foreign policy, and in particular for his signing of the Munich Agreement in 1938, conceding the...
, where his fluency in French and German were often called upon during negotiations with the French and German governments. After Chamberlain's resignation in May 1940, Rootham worked for Chamberlain's successor as prime minister Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice...
.
Second World War
Anxious to play his part in the war effort, Rootham resigned from the Civil Service in 1941 in order to join the Special Operations ExecutiveSpecial Operations Executive
The Special Operations Executive was a World War II organisation of the United Kingdom. It was officially formed by Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Minister of Economic Warfare Hugh Dalton on 22 July 1940, to conduct guerrilla warfare against the Axis powers and to instruct and aid local...
. He was posted to Cairo where he was trained as a parachutist, eventually to be dropped into Yugoslavia. While in Cairo, he also learned Russian in which he became fully fluent. On completion of his training he was parachuted into Yugoslavia with a small team of British soldiers, their purpose being to support the Serb army under Draža Mihailović
Draža Mihailovic
Dragoljub "Draža" Mihailović was a Yugoslav Serbian general during World War II...
in their fight against the German army. Rootham became fluent in Serbo-Croat.
However, the policy of the British government later changed, and UK support was switched from Mihailović to the communist partisans under Josip Broz Tito
Josip Broz Tito
Marshal Josip Broz Tito – 4 May 1980) was a Yugoslav revolutionary and statesman. While his presidency has been criticized as authoritarian, Tito was a popular public figure both in Yugoslavia and abroad, viewed as a unifying symbol for the nations of the Yugoslav federation...
. At that point, Rootham and his British troops were hurriedly withdrawn from Yugoslavia - an action which Rootham regarded as a betrayal of Mihailović. After the war had ended, he wrote an account of this military venture which was published under the title "Miss-Fire".
In 1945, Rootham was posted to Berlin where his fluency in Russian involved him in negotiations with the Soviet army
Red Army
The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army started out as the Soviet Union's revolutionary communist combat groups during the Russian Civil War of 1918-1922. It grew into the national army of the Soviet Union. By the 1930s the Red Army was among the largest armies in history.The "Red Army" name refers to...
in the run-up to the Potsdam Conference
Potsdam Conference
The Potsdam Conference was held at Cecilienhof, the home of Crown Prince Wilhelm Hohenzollern, in Potsdam, occupied Germany, from 16 July to 2 August 1945. Participants were the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, and the United States...
.
Marriage and family
At the end of the Second World War in 1945, Rootham married Joan McClelland who was a ballerina with Ballet Rambert (later to become the Rambert Dance CompanyRambert Dance Company
Rambert Dance Company, is a leading British dance company. Formed at the start of the 20th century as a classical ballet company, it would exert a great deal of influence on the development of dance in the United Kingdom, and today, as a contemporary dance company, it continues to be one of the...
).
In 1947, they had a son John Daniel ("Dan") Rootham, and in 1951 a daughter Catherine Virginia ("Tutu") Rootham.
Joan McClelland continued to dance with Ballet Rambert until the birth of their second child, and in later years she also taught at Ballet Rambert.
Post-war career
On leaving the armed forces, Rootham joined the Bank of EnglandBank of England
The Bank of England is the central bank of the United Kingdom and the model on which most modern central banks have been based. Established in 1694, it is the second oldest central bank in the world...
where he remained for twenty years. In the mid-1950s Rootham and his wife travelled to Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
as part of an official delegation sent by the Bank of England. During his career at the Bank of England, Rootham travelled regularly to meetings of the Bank for International Settlements
Bank for International Settlements
The Bank for International Settlements is an intergovernmental organization of central banks which "fosters international monetary and financial cooperation and serves as a bank for central banks." It is not accountable to any national government...
in Basel.
In 1968, Rootham left the Bank of England to join the London merchant bank Lazard Brothers. He was once heard to remark that he made more profit for Lazard in preventing unprofitable deals than in acquiring new business.
Rootham also held non-executive directorships with the British Sugar Corporation (now British Sugar plc) and with the Agricultural Mortgage Corporation.
Writings
Throughout his life, Rootham found pleasure in writing. He wrote an autobiographical account of his wartime experiences in Yugoslavia under the title "Miss-Fire". Two novels "Demi-Paradise" and "Cupid and the Willow Wood" followed, and in his later years Rootham published several volumes of poetry.Musical activity
Rootham was extremely keen that the music of his father Cyril RoothamCyril Rootham
Cyril Bradley Rootham was an English composer, educator, organist and important figure in Cambridge music life.-Biography:...
should be performed and heard more widely. From 1960 until his death in 1990, Jasper Rootham was tireless in promoting performances and recordings of Cyril's works. Several of these performances were released on LP or CD.
Around 1965 the BBC also broadcast one of Cyril Rootham's major works: his setting of Milton's poem Ode on the Morning of Christ's Nativity.